MPA Stockwell scrutiny - Terms of reference agreed

64/07
6 December 2007

The Metropolitan Police Authority today agreed the terms of reference for its scrutiny into how the Metropolitan Police and it responded to the Independent Police Complaints Commission's Stockwell reports 1, 1b and 2.

The three reports were written following the fatal shooting by police of Jean Charles de Menezes at Stockwell Underground station on 22 July 2005.

MPA Chair Len Duvall will lead the scrutiny, which will begin its work in January and present its findings to a full meeting of the Authority in February.

Mr Duvall said:

"Over the past two years there has been much said about the way in which the Met and others acted following the tragic death of Jean Charles. The IPCC reports looked at the police operation around the shooting itself, and how the Met corporately and police officers individually responded afterwards.

"We announced in September our intention to review the way in which the Met has responded to the IPCC's recommendations and what changes and improvements have been implemented or are still needed to learn lessons.

"The Authority as the oversight body for the Met also wants to explain to Londoners how the organisation has moved on since July 2005. We are now in a very different place organisationally and operationally than we were back then. But our job is to ensure new practices are adopted, procedures have changed and that everyone clearly understands what this means for future operations.

"We will make recommendations as we consider necessary to the MPA, the MPS and other agencies, and we will require regular updates on progress."

As well as looking at how the MPS and the MPA have responded to the IPCC Stockwell reports, it will also examine:

• The extent to which the recommendations made by the IPCC have been accepted and implemented;
• Whether all the lessons have been learnt from the fatal shooting and the subsequent handling of information, and whether they have been incorporated into procedures, practices and command structures by the MPS and other agencies;
• What changes, if any, are needed in relation to the MPA's practices for oversight of major critical incidents and their aftermath, including the MPA's role in public information and communications; and What further action is needed, by the MPS, the MPA or other agencies to secure sustainable improvements in policy and practice.

Further media information

For further information, please contact the MPA press office 

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